The only place where the Hawaiian language is spoken on a daily basis is on the private island of Ni'ihau, located just off the coast of Kauai. Throughout all the islands you will find many Hawaiian names, words and expressions used in daily life. In fact 85% of all place names in Hawaii are Hawaiian and often have interesting stories behind how they got the name. The Polynesians never had a written language until the Missionaries arrived and found they needed a Hawaiian Bible, so they quickly developed a twelve letter alphabet. It includes five vowels and seven consonants which are pronounced just as they are in English except for the W, which is often pronounced as a V. Hawaiian Pidgin or Slang is another common way of communicating in everyday conversation amongst locals.
Here is a video on YouTube.com if you would like to learn more about the Hawaiian Language. If you would like to learn a few everyday words or some everyday slang please see our table below. If you would like to add more words or let us know some comments please contact us.
Here are a few words that you may hear during your visit to the islands. You may also be interested in a Hawaiian-English dictionary which covers more that 5000 words and an introduction to the Hawaiian Language.
A, E, I, O and U
H, K, L, M, N, P and W
What it means
can be substituted for anyword
How are you?, how is it going?
this is a better way
Shaka (hand gesture)
great, cool, take it easy
getting a dirty look
Regularly used Hawaiian words
greeting used to say hello or goodbye. Aloha can also mean love
house or home
portion or part, mix of races, such as
ancient Hawaiian religious temple on a raised base of lava rocks
to walk or travel for fun
Hawaiian form of communication
our State Fish, the Hawaiian triggerfish
underground pit oven used for cooking luau
ocean, salt water
native-Hawaiian or long-time resident
meat or fish wrapped in taro leaves and steamed in a ti leaf packet
garland of flowers, leaves, nuts, or shells
ancient Hawaiian celebration held annually with sports and religious festivities
mythical small people who are rumored to have inhabited the Hawaiian islands before the Polynesians